Wrench



July 29 1924. 1,503,136

- L; w. SCHAAFF WRENCH Filed ay 18. 1921 3 She et s-Sheet 1 pentoz- July 29, 1924. 1,563,136

L. W. SCHAAFF WRENCH Filed may 18. 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 2 H um llllllilllll l July 29. 1924. j 1,503,136

L. W. SCHAAFF WRENCH Filed May 18. 192i 3 Sheets-Simeet 5 gnome a 33 flab num 50f Patented July 29, 1924.

UNETED STATES tenant earner series.

LOUIS w. SCHAAFF, or HOBOKEN, new JERSEY.

WRENCH.

Application filed May 18, 1921. Serial No. 70,645.

operation, so that the operator, holding the.

tool in one hand in position to apply full turning force, may, without materially changing his hold, and with that hand, easily bring about an effective and secure adjustment of the jaws to the object to be turned and the tool can be more quickly, conveniently and effectively used than wrenches heretofore known. Thi object is attained by providing the wrench with an actuating member mounted upon a part connected with one jaw and having a bearing on a part connected with the other jaw and extending within convenient reach of the hand grasping the handle portion of the tool (so that the operator may, by pressing thereon, move one of the jaws relative to the other jaw) and with suitable means for effectively securing and maintaining the jaws in properly adjusted position. Preferably, such manually-operated means for imparting relative movement to the jaws include mechanism increasing the amount of movement as it is transmitted from the hand to the jaws and operate against the force of a spring arranged to cause movement in the opposite direction, so that the adjustment'of the jaws involves atminimum of attention by, and minimum movement of the hand of, the operator, and the means for securing the jaws in adjusted position preferably operate automatically, upon the jaws reaching the point of adjustment to the object, so that disturbance of that adjustment is avoided, as illustrated in a preferred form hereinafter described. Other objects appear in connectionwith the description hereinunder. w

Trenches differ accordingt-o the use for which each is designed, and the present invention is applicable to many different kinds of wrenches and susceptible of various differing embodiments in each kind, to meet the particular use and circumstances. The accompanying drawings, accordingly, show anillustrative embodiment of the preferred form as follows Fig. 1 is a view of one side of a wrench embodying the principles of the invention partly in section on the line 11 of Fig. 5; Fig. 2 shows a section thereof on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4, with the, jaws of the wrench in tightly closed position; Fig. 3 is a similar view, with the jaws in open position; Fig. 4 is a section on th line 4-4" of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view of the securing mechanism; Fig. 7 is a detailed view of the preferred form of actuating member; Fig. 8 is a view of a modified and novel jaw construction preferred for certain uses; Fig. 9 is a view thereof in position adjusted to anut; Fig. 10 is a vertical view thereof; and Fig. 11 illustrates another form of jaws adapted particularly to turning a pipe or similar object.

For clarity of description and explana tion, the wrench of the invention may be considered as divided into a part connected with each of the jaws, the means for moving one part relative to the other to secure the adjustment of the jaws to the object to be turned, and the means for securing and maintaining the parts in adjusted position. While the movement is relative, it is convenient to differentiate the jaws as fixed and movable. The invention contemplates that either the outer jaw or the inner jaw may be the movable jaw, but a form wherein the outer jaw is movable has been selected for illustration, because it is thought to give somewhat better effect to additional and valuable, but not always essential, features hereinafter described.

The part connected with the fixed jaw 1 consists of a shaft having one portion adapted to co-act with the movable-jaw part, to maintain alignment between the two parts, and another portion adapted to serve as a handle or portion for the application of the turning power. In the "form shown in the drawings, the provision for maintaining alignment between the two parts consists of a longitudinal hole with parallel sides, 2, formed in the shaft and adapted to receive and contact with a. portion. 3, of the movable-jaw part of corresponding crosssection extending into the hole, 2, for a distance at least suliicient to maintain alignment. A lower portion of the fixed-jaw shaft is provided with a space, l, connected with the hole, 2, and adapted to contain the moving and locking mechanism.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, an additional feature, referred to above, is illustrated as consisting of dividing the shaft intovtwo parts so as to obtain relative movement between them in such manner that the force applied to the handle portion of the shaft to turn the object is made to exert a more effective grip of the jaws upon the object to be turned.

In the form shown, one part of the shaft is provided with an apertures, adapted to receive pins, 6, fixed to the other part of the shaft, and so shaped that either of said pins may move longitudinally a sufficient distance therein while a side of the aperture, 7 affords a'bearing for a spring, 8, bearing against saidv pins and keeping the parts in alignment except when the turning power is applied. \Vhen the shaft is thus divided into two parts, with proper double-actingv hinge construction between them, and proper provision made for locking the movable-jaw part ofthe wrench to the handle portion of the fixed-j aw part, as hereinafter described, the power applied in turning in either direction exerts sufficient lever power (having one of the pins,

6,as a fulcrum) to cause the jaws to move towards each other and thus exert a more other uses, as, for instance, in the case of the pipe wrench, the jaws of which are illustrated in Fig. l1, and where the form of adjusting andlocking mechanism operates less accurately than the preferred'form, so

7 that slippage therein requires compensation,

or considerations of cost are comparatively unimportant, the addition of this feature is preferred. j V

The movablejaw part of the wrench consists ofa shaftcomprising a portion, 3, coacting with a portion of the fixed-jaw part to preserve alignment, and a portion, 9, adapted to be engaged by the locking met-hanism. Then the shaft of the fixed-j aw part is articulatedfso as to embody the additional feature above described, the shaft movement.

of the movable-jaw part is preferably pro vided with a portion which is both flexible enough to adapt the shaft to the movement.

of the hinge construction and stiff enough to transmit the push of the moving mechanism on the lock-engaging portion, 9, to the jaw portion, 3, as wellas strong enough to stand the strains exerted by the turning A portion of chain, 10, comprising several flat-pieces of metal pivoted together has been found tocomply with the requirements. It will be understood that when the invention is embodied in forms not embracing the hinge construction of the fixed-jaw part, the movable-jaw part may consist of a single piece of metal.

The means for moving the movable-jaw part relative to the fixed-jaw part to adjust the jaws to the object to be turned comprise a member having a hearing or fulcrum on the fixed-jaw part and extending within convenient reach of the hand holding the tool by the handle portion, the movement of which, as by a finger of that hand, is transmitted by suitable, and preferably multiplying mechanism to the movable-jaw part. To minimize the amount of attention required from the operator in effecting the adjustment of the jaws and make the tool automatically effect as much as possible of the operation, in the preferred form pressure on the actuating member is made to operateagainst the force of sprin 's in such manner that when the pressure is released the tool itself completes the adjustment and the maintenance thereof during the turning operation. In the form shown in the drawings, the inember 11, considered as an actuating member, is in substance a lever mounted or fulcrumed on the pin, 12, fixed to the flxedjaw part and extending within easy reach of the hand grasping the handle portion of the tool, so that, for instance, the forefinger may be used conveniently to exert pressure at 13. The transmission of this movement to the movable jaw, in the form shown, is through the extension or arm, 14, to the short arm of the shifter, 15, pivoted at 16, the longer arm of the shifter being provided with a pin, 17, which operates: in an oblongated aperture, 18, provided in the shaft of the movablej aw part. l/Vhile other forms of transmitting the movement by lever or gear systems may be used, the particular form shown is preferred because it combines the advantages of few parts and little space with multiplication of distance and accuracy of direct-ion. A comparatively strong spring, 19, between the fixed-jaw part and the movable-jaw part is arranged. to exert its force against the pressure on the actuating member, preferably in line with the longitudinal movement of the movable-j aw part.

The means for locking the parts in ad justed position against undesirable relative movement during the turning operation comprise a surface on a portion of the movable-jaw part adapted to be engaged by a corresponding surface fastened to the fixedjaw part, with suitable mechanism to move such surfaces into or out of engagement, preferably automatically upon'the adjustment of the jaws on the object to be turned and without manual movement which might disturb the adjustment. In the form shown in the drawings, a portion of the shaft, 9, is

made round and the surface thereof threaded, provided with ridges or otherwise rough ened; members 11 and are fastened to the fixed-jaw part by being pivoted on the pins 12 and 21; the surfaces of said members 11 and 20, cont-acting with the shaft, 9, when said members are turned on their mountings, are shaped and threaded, ridged or roughened to correspond with and engage the surface of the shaft, 9, this shaping of said members preferably including making the line of the contacting surface with due regard to the location of the pivot, so that the surfaces will be completely freed from, or in sufficient engagement with, the shaft, 9. In the form shown, the member 11 is part of the actuating member, this particular construction affording the additional advantage of making one piece serve both purposes; and that piece is preferably further pro"- vided with the means for moving the member 20 out of engagement with the shaft and looking it into engagement therewith. These means for moving the member 20 out of engagement take the form of a lug, 22, placed so as to strike a portion of the member 20 shaped to; contact with said lug and therebelow cut away to permit further movement of the actuating member, 11, without too much movement of the member 20. The

means shown for locking the member in engagement take the form of a lug, 23, placed to contact with a portion of the member 20, the contact side ofthe lug, 23, preferably corresponding with an arc of the pivot, 12, and the contacting portion of the member 20 being preferably some-what at an angle to the lug, so that the force of contact tends to force the lug upward and prevent slipping. As indicated by the dotted line, the portion of the member 20, on which the lug, 23, bears, is so shaped that after the lug has been withdrawn from contacting position,

the member 20 may pass over it, and themember 20 thus be given sufiicient movement to free it from engagement with shaft 9. A spring or springs, 24, are arranged to exert pressure against the members 11 and 20, tending to force them into engagement with the shaft, 9, bearings for said spring or springs being conveniently provided on portions of said members opposite to the portions carrying or contacting with the lugs."

the force of the spring or springs, 24, moves the contacting surfaces of the members 11 and-20 into engagement with the co -acting surface of the shaft 9, so that the jaws are locked against separation. The use of a spring or springs, such as 24, to effect the operation of the means for securing the jaws against separation, is preferred to the use of manually-operating means which are available, because the movement of the hand involved in operating the latter is apt to disturb somewhat'the adjustment of the jaws to the object to be turned. It is also preferred to arrange the mountings of the looking mechanism on the fixed-j aw part of the tool in such fashion that the bearings of the locking mechanism on that part are dis posed angularlywith respect to the bearings of such mechanism on the movable-j aw part, so that force exerted in the direction of separating the jaws tends to tighten the engagement between the contacting surfaces. Thus in the form shown, the greater the force exerted in thedirection of moving the shaft, 9, upwardly, the more tightly the contacting surfaces of the shaft, 9, and members 11 and 20 are forced into effective engagement. For

that reason, such an arrangement is to be preferred to an arrangement wherein the engaging members simply move in contact horizontally, or other arrangements which are available.

The aws of the wrench of the invention will vary according to the particular uses. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is illustrated the usual type of jaws common to monkey wrenches. In Fig. 11 is shown a type of jaws adapted to wrenches to be used in holding or turning pipes or like objects. In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 is shown a novel type of jaw preferred when the invention is to be embodied in a certain type of automobile wrench. The jaws there shown comprise a plurality of members, 25, mounted in the jaws in such manner that they may turn so that one side thereof contacts fully with a side of the nut to be turned, whereby such jaws are suited to engage effectively nuts of different sizes. Such members may be conveniently held by pivots, 26, and provided with springs, 27, acting to maintain them normally in position best suited to introducing the nut between the jaws. with such members present the further advantage that when they have been adjusted to a nut by the relative movement 'of the javris and turning power is applied to the too clinching or gripping action upon the nut to be turned, of particular value when, by reason of wear or otherwise, it is difiicult to turn it. When such jaws are employed in a wrench having also the hinge feature hereinabove disclosed, a tool of remarkable gripping capacity is provided. If the Jaws provided the members exert an additional adjustment and:locking-means ofthe invenscribed, these means of increasing the effectiveness of the gripping of the jaws are desirable to compensate for any inaccuracy in the adjustment. I

It will'be understood that in elaborating ierein the preferred form and sundry details thereof, there is no implication that the invention is not susceptible of advantageous use in other forms. By reason of considervations of cost and work to be performed,

sundry features of' the preferred form may be advantageously omitted and the invention embodied in different forms, in many cases. The parts, improvements and combinations claimedas the invention are pointed out in the following claims, to wit-:

1. A wrench comprising jaws one of which is movable relative to the other, shafts connected with the jaws and having portions co-acting to maintain alignment therebetween, manually-actuated means for imparting relative longitudinal movement to one shaft in one direction, said shaft being so movable to the full extent of its range of movement, spring-actuated means for imparting movement thereto in the other direction, and spring-actuated means operable upon adjustment of the jaws to the object to be turned to lock the jaws against separation. g

2. A wrench comprising jaws one of which is movable 7 relative to the other, shafts connected with the jaws and having portions co-acting to maintain alignment therebetween, manually-actuated means for imparting relative longitudinal movement to one shaft in one direction, said shaft being so movable to the 'fullvextent of its range of movement, spring-actuated means for imparting movement thereto in the other direction, and means operable upon adjustment of the jaws to the object to be turned to lock the jaws against separation.

3. In a wrench having aws one ofwhich is movablerelative to the other, a lever to effect relative movement between the jaws to open the jaws to substantially their full extent fulcrumed ona part connected with one jawand'having a'bearing on apart connected with the other aw and an arm within convenient reach of the hand grasping the handle portion of the tool to actuate the lever.

4-. In a wrench having aws one of which is movable relative to the other, a member for actuating relative-movementbetween the jaws to open them mounted on a part con- 7 nected with'one jaw and extending within convenient reach of the hand grasping the handle portion of the tool, in combination with means for transmitting the movement of the actuating member to the other jaw and increasing the amount of movement-in thetransmission.

5. In a wrench having jaws one of which is movable relative to the other, an actuating member mounted upon a part connected with one jaw and extending within convenient reach of the hand grasping the handle portion of the tool, in combination with means for transmitting its movement to effect relative movement of the jaws when it is moved in one direction, and means for securing the jaws against separation when moved in the other direction.

6. In a wrench having jaws one of which is movable relative to the other, a lever for moving one of the jaws in one direction to open the jaws to substantially their full' extent, and a spring for moving the jaw in the opposite direction to close the jaws upon the object to be turned, said lever being fulcrumed on a part connected with one jaw and bearing on a part connected with the other jaw and extending within convenient reach ofthe hand grasping the handle portion of the wrench.

7. In va wrench having jaws one of which is movable relative to the other, actuating means for moving one jaw in one direction to open the jaws to substantially their full extent, and a spring for moving the jaw in the opposite direction to close the jaws upon the object to be turned, said actuating means havingprovision for locking the jaws against separation during the turning movement and comprising a member mov ably mounted upon a connection of one jaw and adapted to be moved on its mounting to engage a connection of the other jaw, in combination with means for making and breaking said engagement. 1

8. In a wrench having aws one of which is movable relative to the other, mechanism for locking the jaws against separation during the turning operation comprising a member movably mounted upon a connection of one jaw and adapted to be moved on its mounting to engage a connection of the other jaw, in combination with springactuated means for making, and manuallyactuated means for breaking, said engagement, said member being arranged to move the second jaw in one direction to open the jaws to substantially their full extent, and a spring adapted to move said jaw in the opposite direction to close the jaws upon the object to be turned. a

9. In a wrench comprising relatively movable jaws, one of said jaws having a shank provided with a rough surface, actuating means for moving one of the jaws in one direction to open the jaws to sub jaw and having a portion adapted to engage the rough surface of the other jaw shank, and means for moving themovable jaw in the opposite direction to close the jaws upon the object.

10. In a wrench comprising relatively movable jaws, one of said jaws comprising a shaft having a roughened portion, means for moving one of said jaws in one direc tion to open the jaws to substantially their full extent and locking the jaws against separation during the turning movement, said means comprising a member having a portion adapted to co-act with the roughened portion, and means for moving the movable jaw in the opposite direction to close the jaws upon the object and for effecting engagement between said portions.

11. In a wrench, a jaw having a shaft divided into two portions connected together by bearings fixed n one portion and entering an aperture in the other portion so shaped as to permit suitable longitudinal movement of either bearing therein, in combination with a connection with the other jaw passing between said bearings, and means for locking said connection to the portion of the first named shaft below said bearings.

12. In a wrench, a shaft connected with one jaw, comprising two parts joined together by a double-acting hinge, in combination with a shaft connected with the other jaw, and means for looking it to the portion of the first named shaft below said hinge.

13. In a wrench, jaws each of which comprises a plurality of members turnably mounted therein and having edges shaped to conform to a surface of the object to be turned, and springs] adapted to maintain the contacting surfaces of said members normally separated from each other.

LOUIS W. SCHAAFF. 

